Director of Engagement
Oakland, CA
California Health Care Foundation
Date Posted: 1/14/2025
About the California Health Care Foundation
The California Health Care Foundation is an independent, nonprofit philanthropy that works to improve the health care system so that all Californians have the care they need. We focus especially on making sure the system works for Californians with low incomes and for communities who have traditionally faced the greatest barriers to care.
In addition to its grantmaking function, the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) serves as an important resource for data and insights about California’s health care system and the people it impacts. We partner with leaders across the health care safety net to ensure they have the data and resources to make care more just and to drive improvement in a complex system. It is a big reason why CHCF has built a strong reputation as a leader in making the state’s health care systems more just.
Position Overview
The Director of Engagement helps lead the foundation's strategy for informing and engaging the audiences that are vital to the foundation’s mission. The Engagement Team operates as part of the larger Communications and Engagement Team at CHCF.
The Director of Engagement is central to continuing to build and strengthen CHCF’s strong reputation as a trusted source of information. This leadership role is charged with overseeing all editorial content, ensuring that research and storytelling products are trusted, accessible, timely, and relevant. The role is responsible for evolving the foundation’s print and digital outreach efforts — including all owned platforms including its website and social media, email programs and virtual events — and using data to guide decisions about changes in direction. The Director of Engagement manages an enterprise that includes an in-house team of six (6) direct reports and a network of freelancers and vendors. The role reports to and works closely with the Chief Communications Officer to guide the foundation’s overall brand and communications strategy.
Primary Responsibilities
Team Leadership and Collaboration
Maintain strategic oversight over the foundation’s content and digital engagement efforts, from conceptualizing digital communication initiatives to the meticulous execution of content strategies.
Spearhead the coordination and leadership of the Engagement Team, fostering a collaborative atmosphere to ensure a unified approach to content creation and audience outreach and aligning efforts with organization-wide priorities and with other relevant internal teams.
Supervise the individual members of the Engagement Team, leveraging and developing their capabilities to meet the organization’s current and emerging content and audience engagement needs.
Work closely with the Chief Communications Officer to provide additional leadership and guidance to the full Communications & Engagement Team.
Collaborate with Program Teams as key stakeholders in content creation and audience engagement.
Content Strategy and Execution
Lead the creation of innovative content and storytelling strategies, including multimedia, infographics, data products, explainers, feature articles, and perspective pieces, to vividly represent the foundation's programmatic work and engage a broad audience base.
Oversee the editorial calendar, prioritizing and streamlining the delivery of content to enhance audience engagement and maintain content excellence.
Create a strategy and plan to drive an evolving overall mix of content formats and delivery mechanisms over time.
Ensure that all content produced meets the highest standards of quality and effectiveness, with a goal of deepening our audience’s trust and driving impact.
Ensure that content is accessible and inclusive to reach a diverse audience and meet a range of audience needs.
Audience Engagement
Oversee CHCF’s overall audience engagement in an always-changing landscape, using data and other insights to make decisions about where and how to deploy resources to maximize impact.
Concept and propose the use of innovative tools and interactive platforms to reinforce CHCF as a forward-thinking resource and partner.
Ensure that CHCF’s print, website, digital and email products continuously improve CHCF’s ability to deliver content effectively and create positive user experiences that deepen engagement with audiences over time.
Design and lead efforts to deepen CHCF’s relationship with its audiences with greater two-way engagement and with engagement strategies that connect audiences with each other.
Director of Engagement Minimum Qualifications
Foundational Education and Extensive Experience: Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Public Health, Public Policy, or a related field, supplemented by at least ten years of progressive experience in digital communications. This includes expertise in website management, email marketing, analytics, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, underscoring a comprehensive ability to drive audience engagement and support the foundation's strategic objectives.
Strategic Development and Technological Integration: Demonstrated skill in developing strategic work plans and executing projects within time and budget constraints, paired with a strong capability to bridge technology, creative, and business functions. This includes critical thinking, logical problem-solving, and superior analytical skills to align technology solutions with organizational needs effectively.
Innovative Communication and Project Management: Experience in electronic publishing and employing multimedia and social media platforms for health information dissemination and advocacy. Exceptional writing skills are required, with the ability to distill complex technical data into accessible content for diverse audiences. Proven competence in managing multifaceted projects across various teams highlights the ability to facilitate collaborative success and maintain organizational priorities.
Skills and Competencies
Strategic Problem-Solving and Innovation: At least ten years of digital communication experience showcasing strategic planning, problem-solving, and the introduction of innovative solutions for audience engagement.
Collaborative Leadership and Technological Savvy: Evident ability to lead and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, managing relationships across technology, creative, and business units. Adept at understanding and applying technological advancements to meet the foundation's strategic goals.
Communication Mastery and Analytical Insight: Outstanding communication abilities, both verbal and written, with a knack for making complex information accessible. Coupled with analytical prowess, these skills facilitate effective storytelling and data-driven decision making.
Project Management Excellence: Demonstrated organizational and project management skills, capable of prioritizing and executing complex initiatives.
Other Qualifications
Understanding of the Healthcare space: Possesses knowledge of the healthcare space in California and within the U.S. from a policy perspective.
Continuous Learning and Collaboration: Demonstrates a genuine curiosity and open-mindedness, paired with humility and a readiness to listen and learn from CHCF’s grantees and partners.
Commitment to Anti-racism and Inclusivity: Exhibits a deep personal and professional dedication to anti-racist principles and actively participates in the organization's diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Constructive Feedback Dynamics: Possesses the ability to give, receive, and integrate feedback constructively, promoting a culture of open communication and continuous improvement.
Salary and Benefits
The full salary range for this position is $186,926 - $280,390. The starting salary for this role is $212,155 and is not negotiable.
The foundation provides a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and long-term care insurance; commuter assistance or paid parking; employee assistance and wellness programs; educational assistance; paid time off; and 401(k) retirement benefits.
Application
CHCF has engaged Chaloner as their partner for the Director of Engagement search. Interested candidates may send their application materials at www.chaloner.com.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The California Health Care Foundation is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff and will honor your experiences, perspectives, and unique identity. We believe the power of diversity enriches all of us by exposing us to a range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. Read more about CHCF’s diversity, equity, and inclusion vision.
The California Health Care Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Employment offers will be contingent on a background check that is limited in scope and compliant with best practices for Fair Chance Hiring. We welcome formerly incarcerated people to apply for this role.
